| SCIENCE
TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY (Socy 355)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines the inter-relationship between the three
most dynamic human endeavors of the twentieth century: science,
technology and society. The primary goal of this course is to develop
a critical approach to science. This will be accomplished
in three
phases. The first step toward this goal is to define and
differentiate science from technology and to explain the complex
inter-dependency in their parallel development. Students will
learn
to describe and explain the changes in social organization resulting
from the acceleration of scientific knowledge and new technology.
The second phase of this course will examine how changes in technology
have affected everyday life. We will examine concrete changes
in the work place and domicile, as well as changes in peoples' abstract
beliefs about the world. Finally, we will study consequent
changes in the way contemporary society is structured and the possible
directions of future changes. The class will consider not
only the direction, but also the pace of change. This will include
a discussion of resistance to science and rejection of technology.
REQUIRED TEXT:
Hjorth, Linda S, Barbara Eichler, Ahmed Khan and John Morello,
2000 Technology and Society. Prentice Hall.
Stevenson, Leslie and
Henry Byerly
1995 The Many Faces of Science.
Westview Press.
Watson, James D.
1968 The Double Helix. New York: Mentor.
A Reader is also required.
The reader is available at SAS-E Inc. on
Wentworth Street. Ask for the packet for SOCY 359:001.
CLASS FORMAT
AND ATTENDANCE:
Class time will be spent in a combination of lecture, discussion
and in-class projects. Attendance will be recorded on days we engage
in interactive class projects. If you are absent on those
days you will receive a daily grade of zero. Your participation
grade will be
calculated based upon your attendance for those days. You
are
expected to attend all classes.
ASSIGNMENTS AND
EXAMINATIONS:
Assignments: There will be weekly email and INTERNET
assignments. You have VAX accounts at the College which give you
free access to email, Internet and the World Wide Web. If you have
not opened your account or forgot your password, take your validated
college id to the third floor of the J.C. Long building. The
administrative assistant can open your account or update your password.
Once I have your email address, you will be added to the class discussion
list. Check you email daily for class announcements, discussions
and assignments
Class
Exercises: This course will include both lecture and discussion.
I have developed in-class polemic exercises designed to help students
develop a critical approach toward science. For example, one
exercise pits competing popular explanations for phenomena against
scientific explanations. It forces students to question how
they know what they believe they know. Students work in groups
on these exercises and present their resulting arguments to the
class.
Exams:
There will be two regular exams and a final examination.
These exams will cover information from lectures, text, articles
and guest speakers.
Grade scale:
A ten point grade scale will be used for this course. I do
not curve
grades and I do not offer individuals extra credit opportunities.
A 100 - 90
B+ 87 - 89
B 86 - 80
C+ 77 - 79
C 70 - 76
D 69 - 60
F 59 and below
Grade
Appeals: If you have a question about a test item or want
to
appeal your grade you must submit your test to me along with a letter
within one week of the day on which exams are returned to the class.
The letter must include:
1) an indication of which item(s) is(are) under question,
2) a brief summary of the problem you perceive with your grade,
3) what you are requesting that I do,
4) a rationale for the action you propose (ie., why your answer
is as
good or better than the one I expected).
Make
up exams: Make-up exams will be given on December 3 after
class regardless of which exam you miss. If you know you will
be absent for a scheduled exam, contact me in advance. Unexcused
absence from an exam will result in a zero.
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